Suturing device and method for using same

• US 4,493,323 A
• Filed: 12/13/1982
• Issued: 01/15/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
• Original Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
• Inventors: Dyson, John A., Albright, John P., Martin, Robert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US06/436,607
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 128/334 R, 128/334 C, 128/340, 128/346, 128/335
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments

Abstract

The device of the present invention comprises an elongated tube which is adapted to be inserted into the body so that its internal end is positioned adjacent the tissue which is to be sutured. A plunger is sized to slide within the tube and includes at one end a grasping mechanism for releaseably grasping a pair of needles in spaced-apart relation to one another. The plunger is fitted within the tube and the needles are forced outwardly through the lower end of the tube so that they penetrate and extend through the tissue to be sutured. The needles are forced through the tissue to be sutured and are forced outwardly through the skin layer of the patient so that they can be grasped and pulled from the releaseable grasping mechanism of the plunger.

Claims

1. A method for suturing torn cartilege located internally of a patient'"'"'s knee, said knee having a forward external skin layer and a rear skin layer located on opposite sides of said torn cartilege, said method comprising

inserting an elongated tube having internal and external ends through a surgically prepared opening in said forward skin layer of said knee, said tube having in cross section an ovular shape with an upper surface, a lower surface, and opposite rounded sides which define a completely enclosed longitudinal bore having open opposite ends and having in cross section a pair of spaced apart round passageways and a central flat passageway providing communication between said round passageways along the entire length thereof;

positioning said tube with its internal end adjacent said torn cartilege and its external end located outside said forward skin layer;

detachably securing a pair of needles in parallel spaced apart relation to one another to one end of a plunger, said needles being interconnected by a surgical thread;

slidably inserting said needles into said round passageways of said bore until said needles are protruding from said internal end of said tube and are in contact with said torn cartilege, and at least a portion of said plunger and said surgical thread are outside said external end of said tube;

manually forcing said needles through said torn cartilege and said rear skin layer by exerting pressure on said portion of said plunger located externally of said tube until at least a portion of each of said needles is protruding externally of said rear skin layer;

detaching said needles from said plunger;

grasping said protruding portions of said needles and pulling them completely through said torn tissue and said rear skin layer whereby said surgical thread is pulled completely through said central passageway of said bore and is looped through the two holes formed by said needles in said torn cartilege and has two free ends located externally of said rear skin layer;

tying said two free ends of said thread together externally of said rear skin layer.

2. A surgical device according to claim 1 wherein said plunger means comprises a pair of elongated shafts each sized to fit within and slide within one of said said spaced apart longitudinal passageways.

3. A surgical device according to claim 2 wherein said needle grasping means comprise a pair of needle receptacles, each located at one end of one of said shafts, each of said needle receptacles being sized to frictionally receive one end of one of said needles.

4. A surgical device according to claim 3 wherein said central passageway provides access for said thread to interconnect said two needles when said needles are within said grasping means and said grasping means is within said bore of said tubular member.

5. A surgical device according to claim 4 wherein each of said needle receptacles comprise an elongated cylindrical cavity in said one end of one of said shafts, said cylindrical cavity having one of its cylindrical ends open for receiving one of said needles and the other of its cylindrical ends having a solid end wall for engaging said needle and imparting axial movement to said needle when said plunger moves from said retracted to said extended positions.

6. A surgical device for suturing torn cartilege within a patient'"'"'s knee comprising:

an elongated tubular member having an internal end adapted to be positioned in the proximity of the cartilege to be sutured and an external end;

finger receiving means on said tubular member adjacent said external end thereof;

said tubular member having in cross section an ovular shape with an upper surface, a lower surface and opposite rounded sides defining a completely enclosed elongated bore extending longitudinally through said tubular member, said bore having opposite open ends and comprising in cross section a pair of spaced apart elongated needle passageways, and a central passageway positioned between said needle passageways and providing communication therebetween along the entire length thereof;

a pair of surgical needles each having a pointed end and a rearward end and each being fitted within one of said needle passageways with said pointed end pointing toward said internal end of said tubular member, said needles being longitudinally slidable within said needle passageways;

a suturing thread operatively connected to both of said needles adjacent said rearward ends of said needles, at least a portion of said thread extending outside said external end of said tubular member;

plunger means having a handle and a needle grasping means, said needle grasping means releaseably holding said needles and being adapted to release said needles in response to manual pulling of said needles away from said grasping means;

said handle being located externally of said bore for permitting the application of axial manual pressure between said handle and said finger receiving means of said tubular member to cause said needles to be forced longitudinally through said bore and outwardly through said internal end of said tubular member, said central passageway permitting said suturing thread to pass through said bore with said needles.

7. A surgical device for suturing a torn cartilege within a patient'"'"'knee comprising:

an elongated tubular member having an internal end adapted to be positioned in the proximity of the cartilege to be sutured and an external end;

said tubular member having an elongated bore extending longitudinally through said tubular member, said bore having opposite open ends;

plunger means telescopically fitted within said elongated bore for longitudinal sliding movement therein, said plunger means comprising an elongated body member, and a plunger head;

said body member having a handle at one end thereof and being provided at the opposite end with a threaded opening having cylindrical sidewalls, said cylindrical sidewalls being provided with a tapered cam means which is within said opening;

said plunger head comprising a threaded end portion and a pair of spaced apart bifurcated members which are yieldably movable toward and away from one another;

a pair of spaced apart needles positioned in the space between said bifurcated members and having pointed ends protruding outwardly therefrom;

surgical thread being connected to both of said needles;

said plunger head being threadably insertable into said threaded opening whereby said cam means engages said bifurcated members and forces said bifurcated members toward one another so as to retentively engage said needles therebetween;

said bifurcated members being movable apart from one another when said plunger head is removed from said threaded opening so as to release said needles from retentive engagement between said bifurcated members.